Everything Turned Out to be All Right

June 15, 2012 By 7 Comments
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Painting of Bren Bataclan

By Alpha Miguel-Sanford

 

Today is the end of another academic year at my day job and I must say it was one of the most exciting years I’ve had in my career as an educator.

If you remember from last year, one of the things I did when I started this new role was to bring a painting from Bren Bataclan, a Filipino-American painter based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that says, “Everything will be all right!” and presented to the rest of my colleagues at our first department meeting. I even used that same line on my e-mail signature and I plan to keep it for as long as I can.

Yesterday, as we were preparing for a department pot-luck luncheon, one of my colleagues asked, “I thought you were going to give us a copy of that painting” pointing at the ‘Everything will be all right!’on my door.

I said, “Unfortunately, Bren Bataclan stopped producing the postcard versions since he has been busy with his school murals in and around Boston.”

Then my colleague added in reply, “Why don’t you give that to me and I will ask my Dad to scan it and can print it out for us!”

I immediately answered with excitement, “Sure, why not?”

That brief conversation really struck me for a few things:

1. that, a simple yet powerful statement has helped me go through a year of learning to lead and be led.

2. that, if an individual truly believes something positive will come out of a given situation despite numerous challenges, then indeed “everything will be all right!”.

3. that, if an individual puts in his faith and confidence in everything that happens beyond his control, he can still manage to be resilient for he knows that somehow, somewhere, some way “everything will still be all right!”

4. that, in any organization the only constant thing is change. Some people are reactive to change; some people aren’t. But, if an individual is open and willing to see how a certain change may bring about a level of progress, then it will naturally follow that everything will be under control and that, “everything will be and might be all right!”

5. that, a simple affirmation whether in the form of a statement, an object or any type of visual media will directly or indirectly help an individual during trying moments.

Do you believe, just like what happened to me this year that “everything will be all right’?

Let me know your thoughts!

 

Filed Under: Alpha Sanford Articles, Daily Inspiration Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Saturday Success Story #30: Dr. Antonio Levy Ingles, Jr.

April 28, 2012 By 3 Comments
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As an EDUCATOR, I am simply grateful because I am here where I am right now not because I am that really good but because of the support from my family and people around me who made all things possible.

 

Dr. Antonio Levy Ingles, Jr., founder of Aral Pinoy, a Philippine-based organization which aims to involve Filipinos to serve fellow Filipinos in the field of education. To date, Dr. Ingles has started initiatives in the Philippine education system such as adopting and nurturing classrooms, teaching and conducting free seminars on different teaching strategies and interventions, providing assistance to schools that have insufficient instructional materials/equipment and insufficient budget or funds.

Today he shares with us his story and why you should consider supporting his education cause.

This is his story:

AMS: Tell us your background: education, training and community involvement.

Dr. A. Ingles: “Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.” ~Viktor E. Frankl. 

Since 1991, I am an EDUCATOR, and I have been teaching for the last 20 years. I have worked as Christian Living Education (CLE) high school teacher inAssumptionCollege(1991-1992), religion/theology teacher in Centro Escolar University (CEU) (1992-1994), in St. Paul College of Manila (SPCM) (1994-1997) now a University, and in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (1997-present). In all these 20 long years of meeting students from different walks of life, I have been seeing that majority of them need purposes in their own specific contexts and conditions: in their studies, future works and practically in all areas of their lives.

But to make a little difference, particularly in the lives of many who have no chance to receive a decent education, I dream big for them, but I guess I cannot be of help without making it sure that I am also in the position to help others. And I think I cannot pursue the realization of this noble dream without seizing this opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of these aspiring young students to go after heir own dreams regardless of who they are or where they come from.

I am blessed to earn and I hope that I am better equipped with the following: AB / Bachelor of Arts in Classical Philosophy, San Carlos Seminary, 1989;  MA (cand.) / Master of Arts in Sacred Theology, San Carlos Seminary,1991;  MEd / Master of Education Major in Religious and Values  Education, De La Salle University, 2000 MaLT / Master in Learning and Teaching, De La Salle University, 2005. Finally, I received my PhD / Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Cosmic Anthropology, Asian Social Institute, 2011.

AMS: What are you currently involved in?

Dr. A. Ingles: Inspired and motivated by education for life-giving relationships and by justice in four directions: Maka-Diyos (Pro God); Maka-tao (Pro People); Makakalikasan (Pro Nature / Creation and) and Makabansa (Pro Country), Aral Pinoy is launching its 2nd Year of Project Baon, and it is now searching and accepting sponsorships for the school year 2012-2013.

You can see our Project Baon  last year here.

AMS: What made you start Aral Pinoy?

Dr. A. Ingles: On March 25, 2009 I received an email from Mr. Eduardo B. Verzosa, a Filipino professional web/graphic designer based in Norway, who expressed his intention to support my education advocacy after reading my blog on free teacher-training for public schools. Mr. Verzosa generously shared his website-design talent and web hosting services free of charge and by April 16, 2009, Aral Pinoy launched its official website.

My simple advocacy dedicated to education for life-giving relationships and by embracing and practicing an ethical pedagogy on how to be just and live in life-sustaining and life-giving relationships gave birth to Aral Pinoy.

Eventually series of programs, projects and activities have been done and will continue doing. On August 11, 2010 I was blessed to formally establish ARALPINOY.ORG INC., as a non-stock, non-profit organization and non-partisan organization registered under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) (with CRN CN201012580 and TIN 007-842-097).

AMS: Tell us more about Aral Pinoy, its mission and how it is being fulfilled. What are your visions for them?

Dr. A. Ingles: Aral Pinoy simply means a Filipino (Pinoy) Pedagogy (Aral), which is basically a tangible vision of my initiative to create ethical-pedagogical bridge in concrete action for purposes of values re-orientation or formation program for sustainable living.

According to Fr. John Fuellenbach, SVD (1998) in the Old Testament (OT), justice (katarungan) concept is “Right-Relations” or even better as “Life-Giving Relationships”. To be just means human beings should live in life-giving relationships in the following holistic essential relations in four directions: (1) with their fellow human beings, (2) with themselves, (3) with nature (creation) and (4) ultimately with God (p. 195).

Aral Pinoy is dedicated to EDUCATION, through which its mission is to uphold and support a life-giving-dignity-based of living and relationships. The principles enumerated below are the context on what this EDUCATION Mission stands for:
Ako ay Pilipino (I am a Filipino)
Buong katapatang nanunumpa (I pledge my allegiance)
Sa… Pilipinas (To… the Philippines)
Na may dangal, katarungan at kalayaan (With honor (dignity), justice and freedom)
Na pinakikilos ng sambayanang (That is put in motion (action) by one nation)
Maka-Diyos, [For the love of] (God,)
Maka-tao, (People,)
Makakalikasan at (Nature and)
Makabansa. (Country).”
Source: Republic Act No. 8491, S. 25 & 40. (1998).

Aral Pinoy would like to continue and sustain any, if not all, its previous projects/activities below and to do more:

Maka-Diyos (love of God)

 

Maka-tao (love of people)

 

Makakalikasan at (love of nature and)

 

Makabansa (love of country)

AMS: How do you see yourself with Aral Pinoy in the future?

Dr. A. Ingles: Aral Pinoy is a tangible vision and just a small version of Education For All (EFA).  But I dream big that one day, if God’s generosity allows, I will build schools in the rural areas, the schools for life that will empower them. This dream of helping and working with the marginalized sectors of our society started since my seminary days in the early ’80s. I believe more that education today is an urgent call to action for and by the rural poor: the indigenous people, the rural women, the fisher folks, the farmers, the rural youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities and the informal sector.

AMS: As a professional and the founder of Aral Pinoy, what do you think is the most important skill one must possess in order to become successful?

Dr. A. Ingles: The breadth of my experience has enriched my teaching life. I meet exemplary teachers and I have been so fascinated and interested in finding out what makes them really good. Regardless of the substantial differences among them in terms of teaching style, personality, teaching goals and ways of interaction with students, I have realized that it is the inherent sameness of good teachers that made them really good. I could also say that good teachers, in all settings and at all levels, have more in common with each other: They have hearts to teach.

It is really worthwhile for a school to select, hire and re-hire a good if not the best teacher by scrutinizing his or her teaching credentials, performances and experiences.

I believe that a school will not settle for less. Lower quality teachers are more expensive; they produce lower levels of student learning and erode morale. Good teachers matter and they matter a lot for they can make a vital difference.

Being an EDUCATOR here at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde for the past 15 years, I have also witnessed good teachers who have been keys to Benildean learning, to Lasallian educational reform, curriculum design and implementation, community building and Christian values formation. They really have hearts to teach. But teachers cannot be good in a generic sense; they have to be good for something and should have hearts to teach. These are the teachers “who have some sort of connective capacity, who connect themselves to their students, their students to each other and everyone to the subject being studied.” (Parker Palmer, 1999).

With humility I know I am one of them. I believe I am a good. I believe I have a heart to teach.  And I think that what is most important is not only the skill, but also the value and attitude in life order to become successful.

AMS: For a follow up question, what motivates you to do what you do?

Dr. A. Ingles: The official logo of ARALPINOY.ORG INC (Education Philippines) consists of the feather pen (blue), the book (blue and red), the Philippine flag (blue and red) and the sun rising (yellow) above the mountain horizon (blues and red), three stars (yellow), the text Aral Pinoy which all put together they symbolize hope for knowledge and education, and at the same time demonstrate a true Filipino spirit. 

In the Philippines, the Republic Act No. 8491, also known  as An Act prescribing the code of the national flag, anthem, motto, coat-of-arms and other heraldic items and devices of the Philippines [Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines], declares in Sec. 40 : The National Motto shall be “MAKA-DIYOS, MAKA-TAO, MAKAKALIKASAN AT  MAKABANSA.” These principles are the context on what this ARALPINOY.ORG INC. advocacy stands for. These holistic essential relations in four directions are what have been motivating me to do what I am doing now.

AMS: In building Aral Pinoy, what are the obstacles you have met and how did you overcome them?

Dr. A. Ingles: The K + 12 Basic Education Program of the Department of Education (DepEd) is now a new and another challenge more than an obstacle. Dr. Angel C. de Dios of Georgetown University, Washington, argues that we are facing two major problems: “(1) high dropout rates in primary and secondary schools, and (2) lack of mastery of specific skills and content as reflected in poor performance in standard tests for both Grade IV and Grade VIII (2nd year high school) students.” She claims that the “K+12 curriculum does not directly address these problems. Both dropout rate and poor performance in standard exams indicate failure in the early years of education. That these problems are caused by a congested 10-year curriculum is not strongly supported by currently available data.”

I observed that in the 10-year curriculum despite having100% free public education both in elementary and high school levels, many students neither finish nor proceed to the next grade level. One of the reasons is that many of them are lacking or having no schooling allowance nor ‘baon’ for their snack foods or meals for their daily schooling, no needed school supplies, no funds to spend for their school requirements, no transportation fair and more.

Only last school year, there are 40 students who are supposed to be helped by Aral Pinoy in their schooling, but due to the limited funds available it has only supported 10 scholars. More than sending financial assistance out of my own pocket, this school year 2012-2013 I am hoping to help more students by seeking supports and sponsorships from among my colleagues, friends and generous individuals and groups.

The 10 scholars are sons and daughters of farmers/fishermen in Batangas who unfortunately some of them have not able to get even an elementary education. I am helping them so that in the future when they will have families of their own they will not repeat the same cycle of not being able to send their own sons and daughters to school. I wish that they will be able to finish at least in high school education and to be able to graduate in college is already so much blessings.

AMS: Apart from your family, who are your inspirations? Can you please cite an example when they were the most influential to you?

Dr. A. Ingles: Since 1999, I am married to my loving wife (for 13 years now) and in 2009, I have my one and only loving (3 year old) daughter.

My family will always be my number one inspiration. But apart from them it is Fr. John Fuellenbach, SVD who is so most influential to me. Fr. Fuellenbach does not know me personally and I only met him in a lecture-seminar in De La Salle – University many years back.

My conversion is likened to St. Augustinewho was so impressed by the sermons of St. Ambrose, bishop ofMilanwho himself baptized Augustine. Reflecting on his life and experience, Augustine said to God, “You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”  Reflecting on my life and experience I started to believe more that we must be driven by our most fundamental commitment and conviction to work for the promotion of justice, which is rooted in Jesus Christ’s command to seek the Kingdom: “But seek first the Kingdom (of God) and his righteousness (justice), and all these things will be given you besides” (New American Standard Bible, Matthew 6:33). According to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. (1973) action for justice and liberation from oppression cannot be separated from seeking the Kingdom.

To seek and proclaim the Kingdom implies a rational and benevolent use of nature, a use that is respectful of its purpose and destiny and is mindful of the needs of the present and future generations. To be just, it is not enough to refrain from injustice. To heal this wounded home, it is not enough to simply be sorry for the injustice being done.

 

“Just as the cosmos itself can be ruptured and torn apart by injustice, it can be healed by all human efforts to bring justice back to human relationships to earth, air, fire, water and one another” (Schreck, 2003). In the Old Testament (OT), it was Fr. John Fuellenbach, SVD. who opened my heart and mind to the Hebraic Covenant Theology which best translates justice concept as “Right-Relations” or even better as “Life-Giving Relationships” (Fuellenbach, 1998). This “Life-Giving Relationships” as value can be associated with the concepts of harmony, wholeness, caring, compassion, reciprocal regard, and mutual valuation of intrinsic worth (Acorn, 2004). In the New Testament (NT), Paul also describes the Kingdom of God as, “…not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness (justice), peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (New American Bible, Romans 14:17).”

AMS: As the founder of AP, how do you see your role for the future of the advocacies you support?

Dr. A. Ingles: Now with K+12-year basic education and with the challenges it may bring, I see myself as an EDUCATOR working for more for the education and promotion of justice inspired by Hebraic Covenant Theology.

AMS: What do you think of the Philippine education? What are your hopes for our school children?

Dr. A. Ingles: President Benigno S. Aquino III on April 24, 2012 just led the launch of the K + 12 Basic Education Program of the Department of Education (DepEd). This would add two years to the basic education and hopefully increase capabilities among students who would pursue to work and earn after graduating from high senior school (Grade 12). Studies about 10-year basic education would show that out of 100 pupils who enter Grade 1, only 66 graduate in Grade 6 out of which only 58 enroll in high school, only 23 actually end up entering college and 14 luckily get to earn a degree. Now with K+12-year basic education, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro is now calling for “stakeholders to work together to achieve the collective goal of providing adequate and equal opportunities for every Filipino youth to have a decent and honorable way of living.” (Malipot & Carandang, 2012).

I guess I should be dreaming bigger now that I may be able to build schools in the rural areas intended for K+12-year basic education.

AMS: Finally, what is your definition of success? (to both)

Dr. A. Ingles: I do not totally believe that I can do everything within my power to be where I am today.

As an EDUCATOR, I am simply grateful because I am here where I am right now not because I am that really good but because of the support from my family and people around me who made all things possible.

I may not be the best, but in all modesty, I am taking the liberty of saying that today I am a good teacher who made and will make a vital difference in the lives of our people more than most people do.

I do not believe in coincidence for I know from my everyday life that an opportunity could be missed if not grasped at the right time. I have faith in Divine Providence and I thank GOD for being a teacher who opens many doors to all. A Chinese Proverb would tell us that the “Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” Life has been a teacher to me, opening the doors of opportunities to be of great service to others which fortunately I have entered by myself.

To read other inspiring Success Stories, click here.

Filed Under: Daily Inspiration, SATURDAY SUCCESS STORY Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

10 Things Somebody Should Have Told Me About College

March 2, 2012 By 36 Comments
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Photo of Shem-shem Pablo

By Alpha

1. College is not just for getting A’s it is also for making friends. It is great to get good grades but do not limit your experience with books or virtual friends. Get out of your dorm and meet real, good friends whom you can lean on during final exams and during tough times.

2. You retain more lessons from experiences and not from the books you read. So, get out and socialize more! It is the best teacher in the block. Get out and be involved in numerous internships, summer jobs and hands-ons work.

3. Becoming a boss does not happen right away even if you are the valedictorian of your class. Don’t think just because you were the best in your class that you will be the CEO of a company in your first year of joining XYZ firm, NO!  Be prepared about the thought of starting from the lowest rung of the ladder and be willing to get paid $6 an hour for the first few months.

4. Knowing what to say in an interview and writing your resume is a mandatory skill. If there is at least one skill you must learn, it is how to sell yourself and be great at it!

5. Questioning your teacher all the time is totally acceptable. It is okay to ask questions to your professors. It is all right to make them think! Questioning helps your confidence and helps you think deeper. It also gives you the edge of not backing down when you are right at certain junctures. It will help you face authorities with confidence.

6. Learning a second language does not stop after you have completed that requirement. You have to continue learning and practicing it. You never know when you will go to France or to Mexico for leisure or for business and you will be thankful you did it.

7. Being brilliant is not just landing a “real” salaried job. You can explore different avenues to get paid and live well. In this generation you know that being in the office and in ties does not commensurate your brilliant or the value of your talent.

8. It’s okay to have a boyfriend/girlfriend as long as you can balance both your studies and your romantic affiliations. Again, it is all about learning , balancing and being responsible in your own actions.

9. Learn the skill of budgeting your finances well. You will be very glad if you’d turn down credit card offers. You’d thank me if you would take ten minutes of your time every month to learn how to balance your checkbook or your bank account. If you do not know how to fill out a deposit or a savings slip, learn them now. You will be doing a lot of them after college – and if you are on a student loan, do learn how to minimize extra expenses. Take only what you need, i.e. just the tuition fee. Budgeting is crucial; but knowing how your money is being spent will make

10. College is not the end of your education. It is just the beginning. There may be no more exams or terror professors after graduation but in the real word there are always trials you have to surpass and “terror” people you may encounter…but as long as you know how to manage them, you will be fine.

Filed Under: Daily Inspiration, Most Popular Posts, MOTIVATIONS, Photography by Shem-shem Pablo Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Losing Kyle

February 17, 2012 By 23 Comments
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He is not a family member nor a relative.

But losing him makes me grieve.

Kyle was my student.

Early this morning, I heard from the radio about his death. He was only 16. He was young, vibrant and would have been the first in his family to complete his high school education. He had lots of potential. He is kind, brave, smart and loving. His teachers love him. He is an individual who would-have-been, who could-have-been and who should-have-been.

I feel for his soul, his family and his shattered future – no, gone future.

I know he is gone, but his memories and his love will always remain in the hearts of the people whom he had touched.

I just wish he will fulfill his dreams, as he goes to heaven.

Kyle, you will be missed!

Filed Under: Photography by Shem-shem Pablo Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Saturday Success Story #23: Jay Michael Jaboneta

February 11, 2012 By 10 Comments
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Photo of Veejay Villafranca

By Alpha Miguel-Sanford

There are a few reasons why you have to know Jay Jaboneta – especially if you do not know him yet:

Jay Jaboneta, is the Firestarter and the Chief Storyteller of the Yellow Boat of Hope, who has brought great impact in the lives of Filipino children to access their education, by transporting them from their homes by boats rather than swimming back and forth to school everyday.

Jay Jaboneta was one of the Yahoo! Philippines’ Pitong Pinoy (Seven Pinoys) awardees in June 2011 for his significant contribution as a modern day hero in his effort to send children to school safely by boat.

Jay Jaboneta was the first Filipino who appeared on a TEDx talk outside the Philippines!

Jay Jaboneta is the man behind HungryPeople, a website for leaders and other individuals who are hungry for ideas worth spreading. In fact, he even had the chance to interview Seth Godin, the marketing guru and one of the amazing authors I follow!

He definitely is someone you need to follow especially for his insights, his ideas and his next project involving social media change.

He is an “ordinary individual” who has extraordinary ideas that spread far and wide. You have to know him and if this isn’t enough yet, you have to read his story and watch his TEDx talk later in this post.

Get to know him more here on AMSDaily.

This is his story:

AMS:  Tell us about yourself. Your education, training and where you are currently involved in.

Jay: My name is Jay Jaboneta. I was born inCotabato City,Philippines (around 700 miles south ofManila). I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce Majoring in Management Accounting with a minor in Philosophy in Ateneo De Davao University. I am currently the Fire Starter and the Chief Storyteller of the Philippine Funds for Little Kids aka Yellow Boat Project. It was a project that started in late 2010 when I found out that there were children inZamboanga,Philippines who had to swim just to be able to go to school. My friends and I started a campaign that has since become a global movement that is helping children here in thePhilippines. I also do consulting work on social media for companies.

AMS:  Growing up, did you always dream of becoming a social media changer, or being involved in many charitable causes?

Jay: I was always involved in extra-curricular activities in school. I was Editor In Chief of the English newspaper of my high school, graduated as valedictorian in high school and was a founding member and second president of the local chapter of the international student organization, Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), in college. I guess I did not intentionally set out to become a change maker. I just dreamed of helping make a difference. I grew up in Cotabato City and I was fortunate to be able to come to Manila and work in the Philippine capital and it has opened a lot of doors for me – I always believe that no matter how busy we are, we can make a difference in other people’s lives, we can help people even by just the little things we do every day, the random little acts of kindness.

AMS:  Tell us about how you started the Yellow Boat of Hope?

Jay:  The Yellow Boat Project started in late 2010 when I found out that there were children inZamboanga,Philippines who had to swim just to be able to go to school. My friends and I started a campaign that has since become a global movement that is helping children here in thePhilippines. It has become a symbol of hope for the country and possibly, the world. We named the first boat we gave to the community,New Hope, because we believe we are not just providing a vehicle that can ferry these children to school, we are providing them a source of hope and renewed optimism. The Yellow Boat Project is currently present in 3 communities in thePhilippines: Layag-Layag, Brgy. Talon-Talon,ZamboangaCity; Isla Mababoy, Brgy. Guinhadap, Monreal, Masbate; andLakewood, Zamboanga del Sur.

AMS:  How about HungryPeople? Why did you start it?

Jay: HungryPeople is a personal blog on business, career management and business books that I started in late 2009. Unfortunately, because of all my activities, I have since stopped updating it and slowly transferring the content to my personal site at jayjaboneta.com. I want to re-focus my efforts and writing on using social media for social change.

AMS:  Being young and “chief” in almost everything that you start, where do you get your inspiration to do it?

Jay: I can’t exactly say where the inspiration comes from. I guess it’s a combination of many factors and elements – chief of which are the people who support me like my parents and my sister and my aunts and uncles and cousins and of course my many friends around the world.

The story in Layag-Layag and Isla Mababoy where children used to swim to school also touched my heart that we should help them who despite facing very difficult challenges still continue to fight for their right to learn.

God is my source of strength. I am not religious in the sense that I go to mass every Sunday, in that I pray the rosary everyday or that I do the regular confessions – but rather I believe I have a deeper relationship with God where I talk to him every day, I offer him prayers for family and friends, and that I truly live out the Christian principles taught to us in school. Some of my friends go to mass every Sunday but it seems they do it more because it is expected by society than because they truly believe that Sunday masses renew our faith to be able to face another week of work and challenges.

AMS:  On January 20th, you were one of the speakers for the TEDx Montpellier, which as we all know is a very exclusive and prestigious honor for speakers/individuals who have made great impact in the lives of people. How did you get to be a speaker for TEDx?

Jay: My very good friend in the US, Rick Passo, introduced me to one of the organizers of TEDxMontpellier, Magali Dutilleux, late last year (2011). I’m happy they found our project worthy to be shared on a TEDx event and specifically on TEDxMontpellier in southernFrance.

Editor’s Note: Watch Jay Jaboneta’s presentation for TEDx Montpellier:

AMS:  When you were on stage at the TEDx inMontpellier, what were your thoughts?

Jay: I felt humbled and honored at the same time to be speaking in TEDxMontpellier considering I think I am the only non-French speaker that was invited and the only one from Asia and thePhilippines.

I have to stress though that the real heroes of our story are the children who used to swim to school. They are the brave heroes in our story. I am just the storyteller.

AMS:  For those who didn’t get the chance to watch your presentation, would you please sum it up?

Jay: There were just two key ideas I shared:

First off, I shared how my single Facebook status in late 2010 recounting the story of the children moved many friends and that started the Philippine Funds for Little Kids where we raised funds to build these children boats and also provide their other needs. I emphasized that social media can be harnessed to bring about social change or can be used for social good.

Secondly, I shared how my experience in the Yellow Boat Project allowed me to operationalize HOPE which begins by:

H – harnessing your potential/passion (as this has become sort of a personal mission for me;

O – open your mind/open your heart (we have to open both our minds and our hearts to the many opportunities to help in the world);

P – perspiration (I shared about the importance on acting out our potential, our passions in life)

E – empower others (Lastly, I emphasized the importance of sharing our personal success stories with others so that we can help build more leaders and change makers in society).

AMS:  I read that prior to you becoming the Fire Starter and also the Chief Storyteller, you were a” lost” government employee bouncing from one job to another. When did the light bulb for it start? Who pushed you to do what you are doing now and follow your passion?

Jay: I was actually a corporate employee for 5 years before I volunteered to be part of the presidential and senatorial campaign in thePhilippines in 2010. A good friend of mine, Alex Lacson, author of the bestselling book 12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country, run for the senate and so I volunteered in his campaign. After the elections, in the middle of 2010, when I was preparing to return to the private sector, I was invited to head the New Media office under the Presidential Communications Operations Office. It was while I was in that job that I encountered the story of the swimming children and the rest as they say is history.

AMS:  As a social media changer, what are your thoughts on how to make a project or a cause go “viral” as what happened with your Yellow Boat of Hope video, which eventually went viral on Facebook.

Jay: I would share my HOPE theory again:

First, it is very important that you Harness your potential, that you find your passion in life. I don’t think I would be as effective in my role now if I do not love what I’m doing. It’s important to really find out what we want to do in life early on.

Secondly, I truly believe that it’s important we always look at things from a new perspective and process what we see from a different perspective. The person who shared to me the story of the children already knew it a year before he told me. I guess many of them who knew about the children thought it was normal. It’s very important that we Open our mind and our heart to new possibilities.

Thirdly, it’s important to act on these insights,  just do it. I have this favorite mantra from Tom Peters where he believes that in becoming successful in life, we actually do this:

Ready. Fire. Aim. (and not Ready. Aim. Fire). We usually don’t get it right the first time. So it’s important to stand back up and try another way again. Part of the success of the Yellow Boat Project is that we are continuously looking at how we can improve things. We copy the best practices from other organizations and we work with the best teams out there. We do not believe that we have a monopoly on the best ideas. It’s critical in this day and age to get our hands dirty. They say that we might need 1% of the inspiration to do something great but we need the other 99% of Perspiration to get it done.

Lastly, this has become my mission when I speak with leaders these days – I urge them to develop future leaders. Success for me without succession is a failure. And that is why a lot of organizations and governments fail because so many individuals who call themselves leaders do not groom the future generation. Leaders do not live forever – they must share their blessings, their success, and their wisdom to people around them. Leadership for me is two things: inspiration and reproduction. The number one role of a leader is to inspire and to influence people towards a certain direction, a dream, a goal, a vision. The second and most important part is reproduction. The best presidents and prime ministers in history were those that recruited the best and trained the best.

AMS:  Who or what inspired you to be who you are?

Jay: There are so many people who inspire me. It might take pages and pages to write all of them. My parents and my whole family have fully supported me in my goals and dreams in life and for that I have to be really grateful to them.

AMS:  What are some of the greatest achievement that you’ve had aside from what we already mentioned?

Jay: I think the best is yet to come.

AMS:  If, you were to tell us what are the most important skills you need in order to be successful in life – what are they?

Jay: The first set is two insights from Alan Webber who co-founded the Fast Company magazine:

  1. Teachers are Everywhere.
  2. Good questions always beat good answers.

There is so much we can learn from other people and from nature. We must open our eyes to these possibilities and opportunities. It’s also important to remain curious. All the best inventions were a result of people asking questions, how we can improve them, how we can make things better, how we can help people, etc.

The second set is from Jesus Christ:

  1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
  2. Love thy neighbor as thy love oneself.

Everything I do I offer to God. I believe we need to truly live out the Christian principles taught to us in school. A lot of people forget that standing up for something requires that we try to live it out every single day. Lastly, just follow the Golden Rule. It’s not easy but life is about helping make a difference in other people’s lives.

AMS:  What are your next goals for yourself and for the Yellow Boat of Hope?

Jay: We’re looking for individuals and organizations who can help us build a social enterprise so that our operations can become sustainable. To be specific, we’re looking for private donors who can fund our daily operations on the administration/operations side so that all our public calls for donations will go 100% to our projects.

I hope to empower more leaders so that more people can take up the task of effecting social change. This for me is the best time to be alive in history, we have all the tools in our hands to end poverty and ensure no child is left behind – we just have to do it!

AMS:  Finally, what is your definition of success?

Jay: Personal success for me is finding the courage to stand up every time we fail. There will be always adversities in life; the challenge is how we respond to it.

To read other inspiring Success Stories, click here.

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